Library Cards

To be eligible for a Monroe County Public Library card, an applicant must appear in person and provide accepted documentation verifying their identity and their Monroe County address. For minors using their Parent/Guardians’ documentation, both the Parent/Guardian and the child must be present together.

The following documents, if current and valid, will fulfill both of these requirements:

Driver's license

State ID

If a patron does not have one of the above forms of ID with a current Monroe County address, they must use a combination of accepted documentation to verify identity and address.

Adults (18 and older)

Must provide name verification AND address verification (one from each list).

If the patron is 18 years old or older and lives in Monroe County, they must provide one item to verify name and one to verify address for the lists below. For residents under 18 years of age, no ID is required; but may be requested for application. (NOTE: If driver's license, state ID or Mexican Consular ID has current address, no second document will be required.)

Statement--signed and on agency letterhead--indicating current participation in a Monroe County social service agency

Utility bill for service at Monroe County address; online statement accepted

*Must be post-marked and/or issued within the last 90 days.

Youth Starter Card

If a minor living in Monroe County cannot meet the name and address verification requirements,

AND is not accompanied by a parent or guardian, he or she may apply for a Youth Starter Card.

This card allows minors to check out one item at a time as long as the account remains in good standing. The previous item must be returned before another item can be checked out.

To obtain a Youth Starter Card, the minor must:

reside in Monroe County

provide full name and birth date

provide contact information for the purpose of receiving notifications

The Youth Starter Card may be updated at any time to a regular account once the child meets the identification requirements.

Educator Card for Out of County Residents

Teachers and other educators employed at any pre-school or K-12 school physically located in Monroe County are eligible for a resident library card for the duration of their employment. All regular checkout rules including loan periods, and fines and fees apply to Educator Cards. Educator cards are intended to benefit Monroe County children/students and may be used to check out items for educational use only. See PLAC and Subscription card options for personal use.

In addition to name and address verification, educators must verify employment for the current school year with one of the following:

School or Childcare ID badge

Copy of a contract confirming employment

Letter on school or childcare facility letterhead from the school administrator or childcare director

Paystub (physical or online)

Educator cards are set to expire annually on September 1 and employment eligibility must be confirmed each year for renewal.

All Others

Please call the Main Library, Circulation at (812) 349-3090 or Ellettsville at (812) 876-1272 for information on library card requirements.

If you already have an account, but have lost your library card number, you need to get a replacement card/number. Visit any checkout at the Main Library, Ellettsville Branch, or Bookmobile to get a new card assigned to your account. Replacement cards are one $1. Adults should bring picture ID.

If you do not already have an account, you can register online using the Patron Self Registration form or visit any checkout at the Main Library, Ellettsville Branch or Bookmobile. Patrons applying in person or with self registration will need to satisfy library card requirements before checking out materials.